Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art at Auburn University

The Jule Museum is proud to announce that the story behind the 2026 exhibition, "Sew Their Names: Quilting, Creativity and Activism," is the subject of the latest episode of The Kitchen Sisters Present from The Kitchen Sisters.

"Quilts as Monuments: Sew Their Names" tells the story of an unlikely collaboration between an African American preacher, a White federal judge and a group of rural Alabama quilters, who are bringing together people across the state to embroider recently discovered names of enslaved and segregated Black members of churches throughout the Black Belt.

Produced in collaboration with The Jule by nationally recognized and Peabody Award-winning producers Nikki Silva and Davia Nelson, The Kitchen Sisters Present tells deeply layered stories about hidden aspects of history, utilizing interviews, field recordings and music to bring unrecognized narratives into the national spotlight. Stories from Silva and Nelson have been featured on such outlets as NPR’s Morning Edition and All Things Considered, the BBC, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Radio Smithsonian and Pacifica Radio, among others.

Listen to The Kitchen Sisters Present… as they explore the Sew Their Names story below or wherever you get your podcasts.

403 Forbidden

Have you ever looked at a label in our galleries and wondered "what is that number?"

Accession numbers are unique identifiers for art objects in a collection—think of them as the library call numbers of the museum world. Learn more about them below! 👇

You can see this painting for yourself before it's gone, as part of The Jule's "Sew Their Names: Quilting, Creativity and Activism" exhibition on view until July 11.

Looking for AU gear for you or someone special? The Jule is proud to partner with the Auburn University Bookstore to offer official Auburn University merch right around the corner in our museum store. Check out all our new AU and art merchandise today! Plan your visit online at jcsm.auburn.edu

Have you ever wondered why museums don't allow flash photography? 📸 Or why most galleries don't have skylights or windows? 🪟 It's because light, even in short bursts, can damage art! Learn more about how The Jule protects the university art collection:

Did you know that our attention spans have shrunk dramatically, especially on screens? In just the last five to six years, research shows that the average time we focus on a digital screen is only 47 seconds. This shift has ripple effects, leading to increased stress, mental fatigue, and even higher error rates in our daily lives.

But there’s a solution: slow looking at art in museums! This practice not only allows you to savor each piece but also enhances your ability to appreciate beauty, boosts compassion, and engages deeper cognitive processes like reflection and interpretation. Ready to improve your attention span and mental well-being? Visit The Jule and use our Welcome Brochure for guided questions to enrich your experience. Visit our website to plan your visit today: jcsm.auburn.edu

We were thrilled to welcome Auburn University faculty as part of the Biggio Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning's Summer Course (Re)Design! Centered around the theme "Curiousity Matters," participants heard from keynote speaker Bethany Lisi of UMass Amherst about the importance of curiosity and even participated in a slow-looking exercise.

Are you an Auburn faculty member curious about how working with your campus art museum can enhance your pedagogy? Visit our website at https://vist.ly/544ph to discover how museums are engines for inquiry.

Discover the intersection of art and poetry at The Jule!

The latest iteration of our "Radical Naturalism:" series features original poems crafted by talented Auburn University College of Liberal Arts students from Rose McClarney's Creative Writing course, inspired by and in response to the prints of John James Audubon. Enhance your visit by listening to these creative interpretations in person, or explore them online through The Jule Museum Podcast. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to experience art and literature together before it closes on July 11—plan your visit now by visiting our website at jcsm.auburn.edu

“When I was a child, my mother said to me, 'If you become a soldier, you'll be a general. If you become a monk, you'll be the pope.' Instead, I became a painter and wound up as Picasso.”

- Pablo Picasso

🌷Happy Mother's Day from The Jule Museum 🌷

it's all in the details.

Unveiling this year's Auburn Studio Project!

This year's collaboration between The Jule, the City of Auburn, AL - City Government and East Samford School offered local 7th graders an exceptional opportunity to engage in art and explore local history hands-on. Inspired by the quilts showcased in "Sew Their Names: Quilting, Creativity and Activism," students were visited by local historian Sam Hendrix who shared the significant story of Gatsy Rice. Born enslaved and later an Auburn business leader, Rice was the first African American with a name marker in Pine Hill Cemetery.

Following Mr. Hendrix’s visit, students explored Pine Hill Cemetery to document local history and reflect on the importance of names in preserving the past. Students selected photos from their trip to print onto adhesive-backed fabric, culminating in a collaborative quilt that celebrates local history and fosters a deeper understanding of our cultural heritage.